Combination boat fender and life raft



March 27, 1951 L. R. JENKINS COMBINATION BOAT FENDER AND LIFE RAFT Filed Dec. 9, 1949 I INVENTOR.

LEON R. JENKINS, BY

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Patented Mar. 27, 1951 2,546,396 "COMBINATION BOAT FENDER LIFE AFT 'I-ieon Rr Jenkins, Mianii, Fla.

Application-December 9, 1949-, 'Serial No. 132,149

'This invention relates "to an improvement in combination boat fenders andlife raft or life p'reservers.

'Itis an object of thepresent invention toaprovide .a boat fender constructed of-heavy canvas orthe'like formed-into a tubular easingin which is inserted an air cell to be inflatedfor'imparting a fieiiible formto thefender calculated'to absorb thelpounding or chafing normally imparted-toithe sides :of a boat when docked .or' lying side'by side with-other craft.

Another object of't he invention resides in the novlmannerof forming and closing the ends of the casing af er the air cell has beeninserted, whereby the air cellis entirly protected against injury or displacement either wholly or .par-

tially,.yet-being so arrangedasto be conveniently infiated'from'time to time as may be required.

*Aifurther objectof the inventionresides in the application of looped end =ropes through the end closures of the casing whereby the fender may 'be conveniently supported in position froma dock or the side of a craft or may serve as carrying handles.

A further and veryimportant object of thein ventionresides-ina heavy tubular canvas casing adapted -to be positioned over-the fender casing as ameans-to absorb Wear andlfurther as ameans --for supporting in looped form, a'liie line that .passes entirelyaround the horizontal circumferenceof the fender, with itsterminal ends-spliced together andheld against displacementat the ends of'the-fender byunderlying theffolded end :of the fender casing.

/ Another-distinct advantage in a fender of the above named character is that the air cell may abeformed ofa-conventional inner tube of vehicle tires by the addition a of a second inflation valve arrangedupon the'outer periphery or tread portion of the tube whereby thetube maybe distorted to a generally rectangular I shape for :in-

sertion intothe fender casing with the-additional inflation valve proieetingat one end for convenience. w

Other obvious advantages of the invention will readily present themselves during thecourse of the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings wherein'l'ike charactersof reference refer to likeiparts throughout'the several views.

Rferringto the drawings:

Figure l'is a perspective view of'the "fender casing,

Figure? is a perspective View of the casing in assembled condition, illustrating the initial closure of the ends,

Figure 3 isa similar view of the-completed fender,

Figure'4 isan end elevation ofthe fender shown in Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an end elevationof the fenderas shown iIi FigureQ,

3 Glaim's. Cl. 114-219) Figure 6 is a'transverse section of the fen'der taken online 6 -6 of'Figure 3,

-Figure '7 is a perspective view of the -tubular wearabs'orbinglcasingand,

Figure '8is a vi'ew'illustrating the fender air "cen.

Referring specifically-to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a tubular, ,preferablylheavy canvas .casin'g,-open at its'ends. The .casing will be formed of a-sheet of canvas suitably united by stitching,notishown, andits ends will obviously be reinforced 'by hems and stitching, also not'sho'w'n. Each .open end adjacent its marginal edge lisprovided with Zfour. pairs .of diametrically oppositely arranged relatively small grommets 6 and l and two pairs .of rlativelylarge grommets '8, spaced outwardlyaof the grommets '5. A tubular heav-y'canvas wear shield 9, see particularly Figurel'is formed ..of;a sheet-of canvas united-at Til, by stitching, withLits .ends -open and suitably reinforced 'by stitching. Grommets LH are Ilongi- Itu'dinally .positioned in the I tube 9, asshown and upon-opposite diametrically disposed sides, .for a duallpurpose, to be described.

.An air cell 12, see .particularly Figure .8, "is .Tformed from a conventional vehicle tire inner tube. 'fl hemell 12 :carries the conventional air inflatiomvalve i3, aslis customary. A secondair inflation valve I4 is installed -.upon the-tube !2, but in zthis instance, is wmounted upon the tread portion; of thetube at a point directly opposite the valve I3. The air cell thus provided utilizesan air container thatcan bepurchased in-the open =market without the necessity-of specially formed cells and their attendant costs and serves with equal success.

ln the assembly ofthe device, the-'casingHJ-and tube 9 having been previously formed and assembled, --as inFigure '1 by merely slipping the tube :9 over the casing 55, the-cell"! 2. i i "compressed to generally rectangular shape, as in dotted lines in Figure 8 and is then insert-ed into the casing 5 and equidistantly spaced from the open ends thereof, with the valve M-projecting at one endi The casings 5 and 9 assume a generally rectangular shape in cross-section aft-er the cell is inserted. The terminal sides of the casing 55 are then folded inwardly, as-in Figure 2 and laced together bylacingsi 5, passing through thegrommets l, with the valve l protruding therebe tween. A life line 56, of. rope or other material, is threaded throughthe grommets E5 of the tube 9, passing around the folded ends of the-casing 5 and preferably under thelacings '25, with its terminal ends spliced together. The lacing of the line It through the grommets I Lform identicalloops H upon" both sidesof the fender, serving as hand engaging loops Whenthe device is used as a lifepreserverorlife raft. After the line I6 has been installedjthe top and bottom of the casing -.ends .is .folded inwardly, .as .in Figure 3 .andilacing T I 8 passed through thegrommets -6, .vviththe .terminalend o'ffthe valve 1 f4 .projecting 'therebetween. The .air cell is then Linflated through 'the ,vprojecting "valve J [4, Lto the T desired pressure. A suspension or support rope I9 is threaded through the large grommets 8 at both ends of the casing and the terminal ends thereof spliced together. The rope 69 forms a pair of loops at each end of the fender that may be used to support the fender from a pier or the side of a boat or may be used as a handle to carry the fender from place to place. The fenders may be used as life preservers or when used in groups with the end rope lashed together, forms an ideal raft and as such, may be arranged in pairs or various Ways dependent upon the size of raft desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel and highly efficient fender has been provided. The device is simple in construction, readily and easily assembled, is strong, cheap to manufacture and the air cell and wear absorbing shield can be readily and easily replaced as becomes necessary. Since the tube 9 will absorb wear due to pounding and chafing when the device is used as a boat fender, it follows, that this tube, used as a protective shield for the casing 5, will require replacement from time to time and this can be accomplished with a minimum of effort and cost, since it is not permanently attached to the casing 5 and adds greatly to the overall life of the fender. The device, while primarily adapted as a boat fender, readily lends itself to various other activities, such as the life preserver, life raft, buoys and various water sports. The fender is extremely light in Weight as compared with fenders heretofore used, since it depends upon the cushioning effect of the inflated air cell instead of the well known cork or kapok stufiings now in use, will not become hard and soggy and will remain pliant and free from noise due to the pounding of a boat thereagainst. The air pressure of the cell [2 is readily ascertainable by engaging a suitable pressure gauge to the valve I4 that normally protrudes outwardly of the folds of the casing for convenient inflation.

It is to be understood, that while a preferred example of the boat fender has been shown and described, it will be apparent that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to as determined by the prior art and the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A combination boat fender and life raft that comprises a tubular casing formed of Woven fabric and open at its ends, lacing grommets and rope connecting grommets fixed to each end of the casing, a wear shield of tubular form detachably engaged over the casing, grommets fixed to the wear shield upon opposite sides, an air cell formed of a vehicle tire tube compressed to oblong shape and inserted within the casing, the air cell provided with an inflation valve upon its tread surface to project from one end of the casing, the ends of the casing adapted to be folded inwardly and laced together through the lacing grommets, a life line extending entirely around the horizontal circumference of the casing and underlying the end folds, said line threaded through the grommets of the shield in looped form and supmrting ropes threaded through the rope connecting grommets of the ends to provide looped portions.

2. A boat fender that comprises a tubular casing of heavy canvas open and reinforced at its ends, pairs of spaced grommets attached to the ends at diametrically opposite points for the reception of lacings, pairs of grommets of larger 4 diameter attached to the ends at diametrically opposite points for the reception of supporting ropes, a tubular Wear shield of heavy canvas reinforced at its ends for detachable engagement over the casing and equidistantly spaced from the ends, longitudinally arranged spaced pairs of grommets attached to the shield upon opposite sides for the threaded reception of a life line, an air cell of circular form compressed to an oblong shape having rounded ends to be inserted into the casing and equidistantly spaced from the ends, an inflation valve formed in the cell to project at one end .of the casing, the sides of the casing adapted to be folded inwardly and laced through certain of the first named grommets, the top and bottom of the casing adapted to be folded in and laced through certain of the first named grommets, a supporting rope threaded through the second named grommets and providing a pair of looped portions at both ends of the casing, the terminal ends of the ropes being spliced, a life line extending entirely around the horizontal circumference of the casing and underlying the folded portions of the casing, the life line being threaded through the grommets of the shield in a manner to form a pair of looped hand supports at either side of the fender, the terminal ends of the life line being spliced.

3. A pneumatic boat fender comprising a tubular casing of flexible Woven fabric open at its ends, and an air cell for insertion within the casing to impart flexibility thereto, the ends of the casing being folded inwardly and laced to protect the air cell, the air cell formed from a vehicle inner tube having an inflation valve positioned upon its tread surface, the tube being compressed upon itself to oblong shape with rounded ends for insertion within the casing with the air valve positioned at one end of the casing and projecting outwardly, an elongated tubular wear shield of flexible woven fabric detachably positioned over the casing and equidistantly spaced from the ends of the casing, pairs of grommets fixed to the shield in horizontal arrangement and upon opposite sides, grommets fixed to the ends of the casing, the said air cell when inserted serving to impart a generally rectangular cross-section shape to the casing and shield, the side portions of the casing ends being folded inwardly and laced through certain of the grommets with the valve projecting therebetween, the top and bottom portions of the ends bein folded inwardly and laced through certain of the grommets with the valve projecting therebetween, support ropes threaded through certain of the grommets of the casing ends to form a pair of loops at both ends of the fender, a life line passing entirely around the horizontal circumference of the fender and underlying the folded in end portions, the life line being threaded through the grommets of the shield to form a pair of identical loops upon both sides of the fender, the terminal ends of the ropes and line being spliced.

LEON R. JENKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,179,125 Kirlin Nov. 7, 1939 2,216,871 Banks et al. Oct. 8, 1940 2,355,757 Spanel Aug. 15, 19 44; 

